Khadija Ahidid, the mother of Ahmad Alissa, who carried out a shooting at a supermarket in Boulder in 2021, testified during his murder trial on Monday. She described her son as sick, stating that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia after the shooting. Ahidid mentioned that Alissa, who emigrated from Syria as a child, began showing signs of unusual behavior in 2019, including believing he was being followed by the FBI and isolating himself from the family.
Alissa’s condition deteriorated after contracting Covid a few months before the shooting. His family observed concerning behaviors such as paranoia about being tracked through electronic devices. Despite these signs, there was no prior record of Alissa receiving treatment for mental illness before the shooting.
During the trial, Alissa’s defense maintains that he should be found not guilty by reason of insanity due to his mental state at the time of the shooting. However, prosecutors and forensic psychologists argue that Alissa was aware of his actions based on the planning and preparation he undertook before the attack.
Ahidid testified that she was unaware of her son’s plans on the day of the shooting and believed a large package he brought home, which contained a rifle, was a piano or possibly a violin. When questioned by the District Attorney, she acknowledged hearing about a gun Alissa had that had jammed. Despite this information, the family did not follow up on the situation.
The trial provided insights into Alissa’s mental state and his family’s lack of awareness regarding the events leading up to the tragic shooting. As the proceedings continue, both the defense and prosecution present contrasting arguments surrounding Alissa’s culpability in the incident.
